Romantic opera in one act
Duration: 50 minutes
Music: Leoš Janáček (Composed 1891)
Libretto: Jaroslav Tichý (František Rypáček) after Gabriela Preissová
Premiered: Brno, 10/02/1894

Catalogue Number: JW I/3




















Janáček's second opera (a 'Romantická opera' [romantic opera]) marks the beginning of his use of folk music in his dramatic music. He had worked with František Bartoš on collections of folk dances and songs (which started in 1888), which found their way into his Lachian Dances and the ballet Rákos Rákoczy. Počátek Románu uses such folk music and Janáček places the libretto on these existing forms. As such the opera (originally intended as a singspiel with spoken dialogue) has clearly 'defined' numbers. The opera therefore consists of much previously written music and through this lack of originality and its deficit of sensitivity to text setting (something pioneered from Jenůfa onwards) has never received the same amount of attention that the other operas have. It is also the only opera which has never been professionally performed in the UK, and has never (despite 1974 Guildhall amateur performances) been produced outside Czech lands. The opera is based on a Gabriela Preissová short story (the author of the play after which Jenůfa was written) and therefore marks an important point in the composer's career. It is the only one of the composer's works, however, that he himself dismissed.

Synopsis:

The young aristocrat, Baron Adolf, is attracted to the beautiful village-girl Poluška, who is actually engaged to Tonek. Their courting is discovered by the gamekeeper, who runs off to tell Poluška's parents. Tonek arrives, and despite not knowing the reason behind it, is upset by Poluška's obvious change in her feelings towards him. Her parents find out about her romance with Adolf via the gamekeeper and confront Poluška who admits the truth, angering her father, but pleasing her mother who encourages the union. Her and the gamekeeper suggest meeting the Baron's father. This is not as successful as is hoped, and despite Poluška's disappointment she is happily reunited with her original love Tonek, where the Baron is joyfully coupled off with a young Countess. The characters conclude that marriage within the classes is the best option.



Bibliography:
Tyrrell, John: Janáček’s Operas: A Documentary Account (London: Faber, 1992)

Tyrrell, John: Czech Opera (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988)

Cheek, Timothy
Singing in Czech: A Guide to Czech Lyric Diction and Vocal Repertoire (Lanham: Scarecrow Press, 2001)

Edition:
None available in the UK

Recordings:
Janska, Barova, Porkona, Krejcik, Brno Janacek Ch and Orch: Jilek (Multisonic)